Sod cutter



June 27 1939- R. Q. KIRKPATRICK 2,164,245

SOD CUTTER Filed Jan. 5, 1958 Moc/mm3 Patented June 27, 1939 I l 2,164,246

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOD CUTTER Roe Q. Kirkpatrick, Anderson, Ind. Application January 3, 1938, Serial No. 183,215

10 Claims. (Cl. 97-226) This invention relates to certain new and usedepth of entry of the cutter blade I4 into the ful improvements in sod cutters. grass plot or ground I5 is regulated by a roller The primary object of the invention is to pro- I6 adjustably mounted at each end thereof as vide a sod cutting machine constructed and arat I'I in the lower ends of the side bars |2 of 5 ranged for the cutting of sod in strip form with the rectangular frame.

devices for regulating the thickness of the sod The cutter blade Ill cuts the sod in strip formastrip, cutting the strip into predetermined tion a-nd the strip is cut into lengths by a cutter lengths, and for moving the cut strip into roll device supported on the rectangular frame and formation, the machine being entirely autocontrolled in its operation by the ground wheel matic in all of its operations and driven in any 6. The sod strip severing device is of rectangular desired manner, such as by attachment to a form in plan view as shown in Figure 1 and intractor plow or the like. Y cludes a pair of side arms I8 pivotally mounted With the above and other objects in view that i-ntermediate their ends as at I9 on the side barsV will become apparent as the nature of the inven- I2 of the rectangular frame, the forward ends of tion is better understood, the same consists of the arms I8 being connected by a cross bar 20 to 15- the novel construction, combination and arrangewhich a sod strip severing blade 2| is secured. ment of parts to be hereinafter more fully de- The forward ends of the side arms I8 that extend scribed and then claimed. forwardly of the side bars I2 are connected by a In the accompanying drawing which shows a cross rod 22, one end of which carries an angle preferred embodiment of the present invention: extension to constitute a trip arm 23 that is en- 20l Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken gaged by an abutment roller 24 projecting inaway and shown in section of the sod cutting wardly and laterally of a spoke of the adjacent machine constructed in accordance with the presground wheel 6. The sod strip severing blade ent invention, 2| is normally retained in the elevated position Figure 2 is a side elevational View showing the shown by full lines in Figure 2 by means of coil 254 machine in operation, the ground line being illussprings 25 connecting the cross rod 22 to a cross trated in section and showing the sod cut in strip brace 26 extending between the side bars I2 of form, the rolling device for the sod strip and the rectangular frame. When the machine is the knife for severing the cut strip into the demoved forwardly in its travel, the abutment roller 3o sired length, the latter being illustrated by broken 24 carried by one of the spokes of the ground 30;

lines in its sod strip severing position, and Wheel 6 moves into engagement with the trip- Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the arm 23 to raise the forward ends of the side arms latch devices for controlling the operation and I8 against the tension of the springs 25, the rear release of the sod strip rolling member. ends of the arms I8 being lowered and the blade The sod cutting machine comprises a wheeled 2| moved into severing engagement with the cut 35i frame or carriage having an axle 5 carrying a sod strip as shown in Figure 2 by dotted lines.` ground wheel 6 at each end,` the axle being jourV W'hen the roller 24 moves out of contact with naled through the rear ends of forwardly conthe trip arm 23, the springs 25 raise the sod strip verging arms 'I that are attached at their forward severing blade 2| to the full line position shown 40 ends to a draft bar 8. A frame structure supin Figure 2. 40, ported on the axle 5 and extending rearwardly VDevices are provided for rolling the cut sod thereof comprises, as shown in Figure 2, a pair strip and these devices are supported on a part of of V-shaped members having bars 9 and II] rethe frame structure extending rearwardly of the spectively extending upwardly and downwardly upright rectangular frame and which includes a with a member located adjacent each end of the pair of side bars 2l connected at their forward 4,5,

axle 5 with the connected ends |I supportedon ends as at 2'Iul to the side bars I2 while the rear the axle 5. ends of the bars 21 are supported by angular Avertically disposed rectangular frame includbrace bars 28 connected to and extending being side bars I2 has the rear ends of the side bars tween the rear ends of the bars 21 and the upper 9 and Iii secured thereto adjacent the upper and ends of the side bars I2. A rod 29 is journaledl 50 lower ends thereof, the rectangular frame having at its ends in the rear ends of the side bars 2l, I the top cross bar i3 constituting a brace and a said rod 29 carrying a plurality of rearwardly lower cross bar Iii constituting a cutter blade. arched rake tines 30 while a latch arm 3| is di- The cutter blade M normally occupies apposition rected forwardly of each end of the rod 29 for in a plane below the ground wheels `6 and the engagement by latch devices supported on the 55;

bars 21. As shown in Figure 2, the sod strip 32 cut by the blade I4 is moved into rolled formation as shown at 32a. by the tines 30 and when the side arms I8 of the sod strip severing device are lowered as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, the latch devices on the side bars 21 are operated to release the latch arms 3| whereupon the weight of the sod roll 32 against the rake tines 30 causes the rod 29 to rotate in its bearings with the tines elevated and disengaged from the sod roll, the rake tines gravitationally lowering to their operative positions after the free ends thereof pass over the sod roll.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, a stop lug 33 projects inwardly of each side bar 21 and is engaged by the adjacent latch arm 3| for limiting upward movement of the latter and downward movement of the rake tines 30. To hold the latch arms 3| against movement, there is provided a block 34 that is pivotally mounted as at 35 upon theinner side of each bar 21, one end of the block 34 being forked as at 36 to straddle the adjacent end of the latch arm 3| with the forked end 36 retained in engagement with the latch arm 3| by means of the leaf spring 31 interposed between the bar 21 and block 34. The pivot pin 35 of the block 34 is vertically disposed with the block movable in the horizontal plane and each blockl 34 carries an arcuate cam 38 that is adapted to be engaged by the adjacent side arm i8 of the sod strip severing frame during upward and downward movements thereof for disengaging the block from the latch arm 3|.

From the above detailed description of the invention it is believed that the construction and operation will at once be apparent and while there is herein shown and described the preferred form thereof, it is to be understood that minor changes may be made, such as will fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground wheels and a main frame supported thereby, a sod-strip cutting blade carried by the frame, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation and means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths, the sod-strip severing means including an auxiliary frame pivotally supported on the main frame and a severing blade carried by the auxiliary frame, resilient connections between the two frames for normally holding the severing blade in its elevated inoperative position and a cooperating means carried by a ground wheel and the auxiliary frame for lowering' the severing blade into severing relation to a clit sod-strip.

2. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground Wheels and a main frame 'supported thereby, the main frame including a normally perpendicular rectangular portion with the lower end constituting a sod-strip cutting blade, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving L the cut sod-strip into roll formation, means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths and means adjustably mounted on the vertical side portions of the frame portions carrying the sod-strip cutting blade and associated with the sod-strip cutting blade for varying the thickness of the sod strip, the sodstrip severing means including an auxiliary frame pivotallysupported on the main frame and a severing blade carried by the auxiliary frame, resilient connections between the two frames for normally holding the severing blade in its elevated inoperative position and a cooperating means carried by a ground wheel and the auxiliary frame for lowering the severing blade into severing relation to a cut sod-strip.

3. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground wheels and a main frame supported thereby, a sod-strip cutting blade carried by the frame, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation and means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths, the sodstrip severing means including an auxiliary frame pivotally supported on the main frame and a severing blade carried by the auxiliary frame, resilient connections between the two frames for normally holding the severing blade in its elevated inoperative position and a cooperating means carried by a ground wheel and the auxiliary frame for lowering the severing blade into severing relation to a cut sod-strip, including an angle arm carried by the auxiliary frame and an abutment projecting laterally of the wheel adapted to be moved into engagement with the angle arm for moving the auxiliary frame.

4. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground wheels and a main frame supported thereby, the main frame including a normally perpendicular rectangular frame portion with the lower end constituting a sod-strip cutting blade, means carried by the rear end of theframe for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation, means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths and means adjustably mounted on the vertical side portions of the frame portion carrying the sod-strip cutting blade and associated with the sod-strip cutting blade for varying the thickness of the sod-strip, the sodstrip severing means including an auxiliary frame pivotally supported on the main frame and a severing blade carried by the auxiliary frame, resilient connections between the two frames for normally holding the severing blade in its elevated inoperative position and a cooperating means carried by a ground wheel and the auxiliary frame for lowering the severing blade into severing relation to a cut sod-strip, including an angle arm carried by the auxiliary frame and an abutment projecting laterally of the wheel adapted to be moved into engagement with the angle arm for moving the auxiliary frame.

5. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground wheels and a main frame supported thereby, a sod-strip cutting blade carried by the frame, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation and means for severing the sod-.strip into predetermined lengths and the means for moving the sod-strip into roll formation including an arcuate rake having a series of tines pivotally supported on the main frame, and cooperating means carried by the rake and main frame for holding the rake in operative position and adapted to be released by the sodstrip severing means during movements of the latter.

6. In a sod cutting machine of the character' described, ground wheels and a main frame supported thereby, the main frame including a normally perpendicular rectangular frame portion with the lower end constituting a sod-strip cutting blade, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation, means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths and means adjustably mounted on the vertical side portions of the frame portions carrying the sod-strip cutting blade and associated with the sod-strip cutting blade for varying the thickness of the sod-strip and the means for moving the sod-strip into roll formation including an arcuate rake having a series of tines pivotally supported on the main frame, and cooperating means carried by the rake and main frame for holding the rake in operative position and adapted to be released by the sodstrip severing means during movements of the latter.

'7. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground wheels and a main frame supported thereby, a sod-strip cutting blade carried by the frame, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation and means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths, the sod-strip sever-u ing means including an auxiliary frame pivotally supported on the main frame and a severing blade carried by the auxiliary frame, resilient connections between the two frames for normally holding the severing blade in its elevated inoperative position and a cooperating means carried by a ground wheel and the auxiliary frame for lowering the severing blade into severing relation to a cut sod-strip and the means for moving the sod-strip into roll formation including an arcuate rake having a series of tines pivotally supported on the main frame, and cooperating means carried by the rake and main frame for holding the rake in operative position and adapted to be released by the sod-strip severing means during movements of the latter.

8. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground wheels and a main frame supported thereby, the main frame including a nor mally perpendicular rectangular frame portion with the lower end constituting a sod-strip cutting blade, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation, means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths and means adjustably mounted on the vertical side portions of the frame portion carrying the sod-strip cutting blade and associated with the sod-strip cutting blade for varying the thickness of the sod-strip, the sodstrip severing means including an auxiliary frame pivotally supported on the main frame and a severing blade carried by the auxiliary frame, resilient connections between the two frames for normally holding the severing blade in its elevated inoperative position and a cooperating means carried by a ground wheel and the auxiliary frame for lowering the severing blade into severing relation to a cut sod-strip and the means for moving the sod strip into roll formation including an arcuate rake having a series of tines pivotally supported on the main frame, and cooperating means carried by the rake and main frame for holding the rake in operative position and adapted to be released by the sod-strip severing means during movements of the latter.

9. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground Wheels and a main frame supported thereby, a sod-strip cutting blade carried by the frame, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation and means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths, the sod-strip severing means including an auxiliary frame pivotally supported on the main frame and a severing blade carried by the auxiliary frame, resilient connections between the two frames for normally holding the severing blade in its elevated inop# erative position and a cooperating means carried by a ground wheel and the auxiliary frame for lowering the severing blade into severing relation to a cut sod-strip, including an angle arm carried by the auxiliary frame and an abutment projecting laterally of the wheel adapted to be moved into engagement with the angle arm for moving the auxiliary frame and the means for moving the sod-strip into roll formation including an arcuate rake having a series of tines pivotally supported on the main frame, and coop erating means carried by the rake and main frame for holding the rake in operative position and adapted to be released by the sod-strip severing means during movements of the latter.

10. In a sod cutting machine of the character described, ground wheels and a main frame supported thereby, the main frame including a normally perpendicular rectangular frame portion with the lower end constituting a sod-strip cutting blade, means carried by the rear end of the frame for moving the cut sod-strip into roll formation,v means for severing the sod-strip into predetermined lengths and means adjustably mounted on the vertical side portions of the frame portion carrying the sod-strip cutting blade and associated with the sod-strip cutting blade for Varying the thickness of the sod-strip, the sodstrip severing means including an auxiliary frame pivotally supported on the main frame and a severing blade carried by the auxiliary frame, resilient connections between the two frames for normally holding the severing blade in its elevated inoperative position and a cooperating means carried by a ground wheel and the auxiliary frame for lowering the severing blade into severing relation to a cut sod-strip, including an angle arm carried by the auxiliary frame and an abutment projecting laterally of the wheel adapted to be moved into engagement with the angle arm for moving the auxiliary frame and the means for moving the sod-strip into roll formation including an arcuate rake having a series of tines pivotally supported on the main frame, and cooperating means carried by the rake and main frame for holding the rake in operative position and adapted to be released by the sod-strip severing means during movements of the latter.

ROE Q. KIRKPATRICK. 

